From: Beth Dilley
Columbus
Columbus will lose a real gem if Greenbelt Golf Course closes as planned on Oct. 18.
The course was built in the 1930s and was called The Columbus Golf Club. It was turned over to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department in 1974. In 1976 the course was renovated and redesigned by Pete Dye and was renamed Greenbelt.
As a golfer who frequents Greenbelt weekly, I have observed golfers of all ages and skill levels enjoying a convenient, affordable and challenging golf course.
Otter Creek Golf Course has discounted its rates for its east nine holes for the Greenbelt golfers, but it is a course that most Greenbelt golfers do not enjoy playing. Ideally, the east nine could be sold for development to infuse money into Greenbelt and Otter Creek since it is not profitable either.
If Greenbelt is turned into a park there would still be expenses and no one would be there daily to remove the homeless and drug users along the creek as the staff does now regularly.
At the Greenbelt meeting at The Commons, it was stated that Keith VanDeventer would be reassigned to Otter Creek after Greenbelts closing. But now it looks as though the possibility is slim. This news is very disappointing since he was assured that he would have a job if Greenbelt was closed. I would like to suggest that he could provide some input in helping to increase the revenue at Greenbelt.
In closing, I would like to point out that most of city parks in Columbus do not generate enough revenue to support themselves so the city subsidies them. What makes Greenbelt any different?
